The Netflix show only covered the first 10 of them, which is where the movie comes in; it will combine events from Cornwell’s final three books to wrap up Uhtred’s story. The first short story about a childhood fight with an older bully is a good read without ever being great. I will say from the outset that it is disappointing reviewers are unhappy with only short stories, or that there are recipe’s included - did they not read the blurb? The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean. Definitely a book for those who want to complete their Uhtred collection but by no means one of the best ones.

Now let's hope Bernard Cornwell moves on and allows Uhtred to enjoy his golden years - although with a diet such as what's shown in this book, you have to question how enjoyable those years would be.Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War. The Last Kingdomis based on a long-running series of novels by Bernard Cornwell titled The Saxon Stories, which spans 13 books. The stories I did like and thought they all worked quite well for me, a short story collection of events throughout his life would make a nice read I think. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to readers who love this time period, wish to learn about the history and cuisine and especially lovers of The Last Kingdom.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. With the exception of perhaps two, there's no way on God's green Earth i would even think about eating some of those dishes! The promise of more stories set during some of the most iconic periods of The Last Kingdomsaga, like when Uhtred was still serving as an advisor to King Alfred, is a great way to entice fans to check out Uhtred’s Feasteven if they’re not interested in coking. Fictional history is not real history, novelists leave that to real historians, but our books must be authentic, and authenticity is in the mundane details: What did they wear?

I’m sure the recipes are fine and that those really interested in such things will thoroughly enjoy them. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives. The final story is the best of the lot with the usual dramatic descriptions of sea faring, preparing for battle and the descriptions of the fight itself. And here Bernard Cornwell tells those additional Uhtred stories, showing us the man behind the shield – as a young boy, as Alfred’s advisor, and as prince – while Suzanne brings his world to life through beautifully crafted recipes which open a door into the Anglo-Saxon home . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience.